PENDLETON — After nearly a year of construction, the Pendleton Heights Activity Center is open and in full use, offering a state-of-the- art facility for not only athletes but all students.
Athletic Director Chad Smith said in the two weeks since the center was completed, the school has used the center for academic testing, indoor band practice, winter guard and cheerleading.
Both basketball teams have used the courts, and the football team was able to hold an indoor practice last week when the weather was bad.
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“That’s what it’s for,” Smith said. “That’s why it was not deemed an athletic facility. It’s serving its purpose for everyone in the building.”
The $10 million-plus facility was in the original school expansion plan since 1995 but was put on hold until now.
“It’s more than I ever envisioned,” Smith said. “The equipment is first-class.”
While few additional pieces of equipment were purchased, the new weight room has doubled in size, providing much more space and an airier atmosphere; it has large windows on two sides and a view of another room from a third.
“The functionality is so much better, giving the coaches so much more room to move around,” Smith said.
“It was needed. It’s a game changer,” Smith said. “We’ve been battling space issues for years.”
In the past, teams were constantly having conflicts when scheduling practices. Some teams couldn’t practice until close to 7 p.m., and in the late winter, track teams were practicing behind the upper level bleachers while basketball was practicing in the gym.
With the new facility, “Our teams aren’t going to be practicing as late,” Smith said.
The center has a three-lane running track, three basketball courts, batting cage netting and an area for pole vault.
One of the additions will help save time for practices as well. Volleyball nets are fitted to a mechanism in the ceiling and can be raised and lowered much like basketball goals. Smith said players lose 10 to 20 minutes per practice setting up and taking down the nets. This new application takes just a few seconds to operate. Also, the nets can be adjusted and transformed into tennis nets, giving tennis players an official-sized area for indoor practice during bad weather.
While not designed with any permanent seating, Smith said the possibility exists to add tip and roll bleachers, but now the plan is to keep it as a workout facility.
“This facility puts us in the top of our conference,” Smith said. “From touring several facilities when we started the initial process, this is on the high end — a first class facility.”
Smith said the facility helps gives students a sense of pride.
“They have something, the kids in front of them didn’t have, and they take pride in that. I think it gives them a confidence in training in a facility not many have. It will pay off in the end.”
A public open house at the facility is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m Thursday, Nov. 14. Members of the school board will be on hand as well.